S2:E1 Hilaree Nelson

Hilaree Nelson (formerly O'Neill) is one of the world's premier ski mountaineers. She is most recently known for the first descent of the 29,940 foot Lhotse couloir, one of the most coveted and sought after high altitude ski lines in the world.

Nelson's CV is absolutely staggering. She is the first woman to climb two 8,000m peaks in 24 hours (Everest and Lhotse). She’s also skied from the Himalayan summit of Cho Oyu in Tibet and climbed and skied several high peaks in Bolivia and Argentina. Elsewhere, Hilaree has cut turns on remote volcanoes in the Kamchatka Peninsula of Russia, Mongolia, Pakistan, Lebanon, as well as many first descents in the tight couloirs of Baffin Island.

Nelson is also known for her story of redemption on Papsura, the Peak of Evil and a high-profile North Face expedition that went sideways on Hkakabo Razi in Myanmar. She was named "Adventurer of the Year" by National Geographic in 2018.

Born and raised in the Northwest, Hilaree began skiing at age 3 at Stevens Pass in the Cascade Mountains of Washington State. Eventually she moved to the Chamonix Valley of France where she learned most of what she needed to know in order to take her skiing skills to the next level- ski mountaineering.

In addition to her work for The North Face, Hilaree is a mother to two young boys, and although they have changed her life dramatically, her passion for the mountains has not abated. She lives in Telluride, Colorado and finds her sanity in the beautiful San Juan Mountains.

​I​nspired by ​Hilaree? Read further​ here:

TNF Athlete Profile: https://www.thenorthface.com/about-us/athletes/hilaree-nelson.html

Instagram: @hilareenelson

Website: https://hilareenelson.com/

Outside Magazine Feature: https://www.outsideonline.com/2293036/mentor-hilaree-nelson

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